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Susan SmithSusan Smith has worked as an editor and writer in the technology industry for over 16 years. As an editor she has been responsible for the launch of a number of technology trade publications, both in print and online. Currently, Susan is the Editor of GISCafe and AECCafe, as well as those sites’ newsletters and blogs. She writes on a number of topics, including but not limited to geospatial, architecture, engineering and construction. As many technologies evolve and occasionally merge, Susan finds herself uniquely situated to be able to cover diverse topics with facility. « Less

Susan SmithSusan Smith has worked as an editor and writer in the technology industry for over 16 years. As an editor she has been responsible for the launch of a number of technology trade publications, both in print and online. Currently, Susan is the Editor of GISCafe and AECCafe, as well as those sites’ … More »

A Look at Two Ultra-Rugged and Rugged Tablets and a Handheld Device

Randy Denny, vice president of Sales for Xplore Technologies, talked recently at the Esri User Conference held in San Diego about the company’s big news: acquiring Motion Computing in April of 2015. Motion added to Xplore a broader portfolio of solutions in the “rugged category” of tablets.

Xplore Technologies recently acquired Motion Computng

“Now we’ll serve two markets of ultra-rugged devices,” said Denny, “and we have the dominant marketshare.” Denny added that their customers include utilities, construction, public safety and retail. 30% of their business requires some level of customization, such as in-vehicle docks and perhaps including special integration.

The Bobcat tablet is the latest in Xplore’s family of fully-rugged tablets. Featuring an array of integrated options, and a sophisticated design, the Bobcat is game changing in the world of tablets. With a MIL-STD-810G rating and Windows® 8.1 Pro, the Bobcat can transition from the boardroom to the work site without a hitch.

The Motion line of products are “rugged” but not “ultra-rugged” like the Bobcat. They are purpose-built, and they are able to be dropped, survive shock and rain. They have handles and integrated barcode, scanning, GPS, magnetic stripe readers and also goes in a vehicle dock just like the ultra. It also has an office dock.

A utility may want an integrated infrared camera in their device which would allow them to analyze, distribution lines, and identify when hot feeder lines go out. “Even among our customers we find that field technicians’ workflow requirements may be more reliant on a device with multiple USB ports and a built-in barcode scanner for diagnostics while their manager may need more processing power for GIS or reporting applications,” said Denny. “At the end of the day, though, those aren’t all features that smartphones are built to support, and even some tablets come up short in providing the right features for GIS applications in particular. A tablet is great for data consumption but not for data creation. We can replace a lot of devices with one model.”

For the Motion line of products, many of their sales are for a device sold as part of a solution, such as in the medical or construction fields.

Xplore’s experts can counsel which mobile device and software capabilities are proving mandatory for field technicians working in more remote and more rugged environments – especially O&G, utilities and public safety.

Nautiz X8 large sunlight adaptable screen

Handheld is another company that offers some exciting options, specifically in the handheld ruggedized industry. The newly released ergonomic Nautiz X8 delivers a large, brilliant capacitive touchscreen, along with a combination of processing power, connectivity and field ruggedness. Amy Urban, director of marketing, said that although the Nautiz X8 doubles as a phone, most people will use it as a phone only on the job, not as a regular smartphone device.

While the Nautiz X8 is heavier and bigger than an iPhone, it is way more of a workhorse in a relatively small package. This handheld features a high-speed Texas Instruments 4470 dual-core 1.5 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM, 4 GB of iNAND Flash and a 5200 mAh Li-ion battery that lasts up to 12 hours on a single charge. You have a choice of operating systems Android 4.2.2 or Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5.3.

The device has 4.7-inch high-brightness screen the touchscreen can be manipulated using light touch and multi-finger gestures common to smart device users. The Nautiz is IP67-rated and meets stringent MIL-STD-810G U.S. military standards, which means it’s impervious to both dust and water and can survive repeated drops, strong vibrations and operating temperatures ranging from -30 C to 60 C (-22 F to 140 F) and weighs only 490 grams (17.3 ounces).

Handheld’s Nautiz X8 is an ultra rugged device

The Nautiz X8 offers a combination of connectivity options and standard features, including a dedicated u-blox GPS receiver, BT 2.0 and 802.11b/g/n WLAN functionality. A built-in 8-megapixel camera with autofocus and an LED flash lets you take pictures easily, and connectivity through GSM/UMTS or CDMA phone data transmission is included. Measure acceleration and orientation with the built-in G-sensor/accelerometer and gyroscope, or navigate with the integrated compass and altimeter. You can also connect additional hardware such as sensors, radios and other add-ons.